Posts Tagged ‘ illinois ’

Rich Miller slaps the reformers with reality and numbers

May 25, 2009
By Billy Dennis

I’ve always said that you can’t reform Illinois with new laws. Illinois has plenty of laws. We also have plenty of crooked politicians, cops, bureaucrats and corporations. These people were not foisted upon an unsuspecting citizenry. This is the government we want. This is the government we demand to have. Every election, we go...
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PeoriaPunditRadio: Con-Con talk delves into ballot access, electoral reforms

March 9, 2008
By Billy Dennis
PeoriaPunditRadio: Con-Con talk delves into ballot access, electoral reforms

Today’s PeoriaPunditRadio went off without a hitch. John Bambenek of the Illinois Citizens Coalition and I talked about the November vote on whether or not there should be a new Constitutional Convention. John is 100 oin favor. I ended up generally in favor, but not convinced that it’s a better solution than simply refusing...
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PeoriaPunditRadio: Pro and con on the Con-Con

March 8, 2008
By Billy Dennis
PeoriaPunditRadio: Pro and con on the Con-Con

Bethany Jaeger writes on the Illinois Issues blog about a debate between Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn and former comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch on whether voters should approve a new Constitutional Convention when they go to the polls in November. Quinn favors a Con-Con while Netsch is opposed. Meanwhile, I recalled this post from Peoria blogger Brad Carter...
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Peoria Pundit Radio: Time for a Con-Con? (UPDATED 2x)

March 5, 2008
By Billy Dennis
Peoria Pundit Radio: Time for a Con-Con? (UPDATED 2x)

My last attempt at using BlogTalkRadio didn’t work out all that well. I’m told that the glitches are now over, and that neither I nor would be callers will have trouble getting connected. Let’s hope so, because I’ve scheduled my second show for 6 p.m. (Central) Sunday, March 9. The subject will be the decision Illinois...
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Politics: Illinois has a $44 billion deficit, group says

January 22, 2008
By Billy Dennis

I bet you thought that the state of Illinois wasn’t allowed to operate in the red, and that all state budgets had to be balanced. Well, that’s what I thought. Silly me. These guys say Illinois has a structural deficit, and we’re not talking pennies. From a press release: CHICAGO-AREA GROUP WINS GRANT TO BRING...
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Politics: Ron Paul Comedy benefit at the Jukebox

December 15, 2007
By Billy Dennis
Politics: Ron Paul Comedy benefit at the Jukebox

Comics Brett Erickson, Travis Lipski, Adam Harris and “Abe Lincoln” will perform in a benefit comedy concert for presidential candidate Ron Paul. The event will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, at the Jukebox Comedy Club at 3527 W. Farmington Road in Peoria. The doors open at 7 p.m. and adminission of $10,...
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Posted in Misc | 12 Comments »

Politics: Ron Paul might not make it on the ballot in Illinois

November 12, 2007
By Billy Dennis
Politics: Ron Paul might not make it on the ballot in Illinois

I signed up for email updates from many of the presidential campaigns, including Ron Paul’s. This one landed in my inbox today. It does not make me feel hopeful for the libertarian-leaning Republican. November 11, 2007 If we don’t get hundreds upon hundreds of signatures immediately in Illinois Ron Paul will have no delegates to...
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Local: Bring a pillow and a pot of coffee to next week’s city council meeting

November 9, 2007
By Billy Dennis

It’s going to be a long one Tuesday. The City Council meeting starts at 6:15 p.m. and immediately begines with a presentation and FIVE proclamations. There are 22 items in the consent aganda (some of which are bound to be pulled out and discusses at length). Councilmember Jim Montelongo is asking the council to...
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Posted in Misc | 3 Comments »

Local: Liquor Commission wants council to OK Excalibur

November 6, 2007
By Billy Dennis

Last time around, the council let Club Apollo have try out a 4 a.m. liquor license for size. Now, the liquor commission wants to add Excalibur to the list, which is a bit further away from downtown, something that’s a concern for the police. Apparently there isn’t enough room in Club Apollo to hold all...
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Media: Clare is back

November 5, 2007
By Billy Dennis

The Journal Star’s Clare Jellick is blogging again, and she’s using the site the way a mainstream media journalist ought to: Getting news out there when there isn’t room in the dead tree version. Here are two posts that list school rankings. Here is another than includes quotes that didn’t make the paper. Kudos.
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Media: Online skills for J-students

October 27, 2007
By Billy Dennis

I’ve often advised college journalism teachers to make sure their students graduate with the abilities they will need in the future world of online-only media. Here are five things they will need to know: Oddly enough, there are a couple that escape me as well. How about it, Illinois and Peoria-area journalism educators? How far along...
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Politics: Taking the pledge

October 19, 2007
By Billy Dennis

Speaking of Rich Miller, he’s running a contest I find amusing. Illinois, unlike some states, doesn’t have its own pledge of allegiance. Frankly, it doesn’t worry me all that much that the state that gave the world Abraham Lincoln doesn’t wallow in the concept of state sovereignty. Anyway, Rich asked his readers to get creative....
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Media: Citizen journalism via WCBU

October 5, 2007
By Billy Dennis

Jonathan Ahl reports that his station, WCBU, is going to participate in the Primary Place program being offered though New Hampshire Public Radio. Essentially, it lets ordinary folks post questions and comments about the upcoming presidential race, which the good people of Exeter, NH, can then bring to the attention of the candidates that...
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Posted in Politics | 3 Comments »

Gary Sandberg for governor?

November 4, 2006
By Billy Dennis

From Prego Man, a real grass roots campaign: He has more government experience. He’s not cut from “college professor” cloth. He’s strong-willed. He has a proven track record of representation. And, he was once married to a very hot babe. Rich Whitney has no more business being Governor than I do… and that’s not a damned...
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Posted in Misc | 12 Comments »